Homefront art installation

In Greensborough War Memorial Park stands a series of carved wood figures. On any day you’ll see children playing among them, dog walkers winding through them and people reaching out to touch them as they would an old friend.

War memorial is moving closer to Homefront

In late 2025, the war memorial and cenotaph at Greensborough War Memorial Park will be relocated to the west of the park, close to the Home Front sculptures.

The new space was designed with Greensborough RSL. Work will be completed in time for next Anzac Day.

A new war memorial will be constructed to the western side of Greensborough War memorial Park.
The new war memorial will have a low memorial wall, allowing views across the park and enough space for ceremonial events to take place.
The rear of the new semi-circular memorial wall will have attractive planting to its rear embankment.
A new avenue of deciduous trees will line the new memorial entrance path.
The central cenotaph will be relocated from the current eastern war memorial to the new memorial space.
New cricket nets have been installed at another location in the park and the old cricket nets will be removed.

The project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Better Parks and Playgrounds Program.

History of the sculptures

The figures exude warmth and character: partly from the luminous tones of the varnished wood, and partly because their expressive faces suggest the stories they carry, stories learned from local servicemen and woman.

In 2003, local chainsaw artist, Leigh Conkie, carved a set of sculptures in the park from newly-felled cypress. The stumps were never separated from the earth in which they had grown. As a consequence, they began a slow but inevitable transition back into the soil.

In 2017, we collaborated with Conkie, master carver Hikaru Kodama from Japan and designer and project manager Amanda Grant on creating a new series of sculptures inspired by the experiences of those who had been to war and those who had remained. The original sculptures were farewelled in a ceremonial fire and the new sculptures were unveiled as part of Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemorations in 2018.

Exploring more about the sculptures

Homefront artists and documentary

What happens when you destroy a war memorial and what do you put in its place?

Homefront stories from veterans

Stories, memories and images that influenced creation of the Homefront sculptures.

Homefront interviews with veterans

Veterans who assisted with the Homefront project were filmed discussing their extraordinary stories.

Sculpture gallery

The Homefront sculptures acknowledge and celebrate the resilience of service men, women, their families and communities.

Light Horse

Inspired by the Aboriginal servicemen (and their horses) who served in the Boer War and World War I, this sculpture also depicts the Wurundjeri legend of Bunjil the Eagle and Waa the Crow.

The Letter

Representing sadness, loss and longing, the sculpture is designed so people can sit next to the figure. Holding a letter in her hand and with a tear-stained face, the woman has a heart-shaped hole piercing her chest.

Modern Combat

A pair of soldiers stand back-to-back. The female figure wears the uniform of Australian peacekeeping forces in East Timor, while her male counterpart is dressed in the Australian Army uniform worn in Afghanistan.

Pilot & Sailor

The World War II bomber pilot and naval shipman are partnered with a replica Wirraway aircraft propeller, a ship propeller, compass points and steel knotwork.

Justin the Tracker Dog

Representative of the 11 black tracker dogs used in the Vietnam War, this sculpture bears the name and spirit of Justin, much loved by his last handler, Greensborough local Denis Rowlands. The sculpture is encircled with the names of each of the 11 dogs who never returned home.